Rebirth means coming back to life or being born again, though usually not in a literal sense. When something experiences rebirth, it returns in a new, revitalized form after a period of decline or dormancy.

You might read about the rebirth of a neighborhood that was once run-down but has been renovated and filled with new businesses and families. A sports team struggling through losing seasons might experience a rebirth when a new coach transforms them into champions. Artists sometimes describe their work going through a rebirth when they rediscover their creativity after feeling stuck.

The word often appears in discussions of the Renaissance, a period of European history sometimes called the rebirth of classical learning. After centuries when ancient Greek and Roman knowledge had been largely forgotten in much of Europe, scholars rediscovered these texts and ideas, leading to an explosion of art, science, and philosophy.

In nature, rebirth happens literally with creatures like cicadas, which emerge from underground after years of dormancy, or forests that regrow after fires. Spring itself feels like an annual rebirth, as plants that seemed dead through winter burst back into bloom.

When someone talks about experiencing a personal rebirth, they usually mean they've found a fresh start or new perspective that makes them feel renewed, like starting over but wiser than before.